|
 |
| |
|
| |
HB 5327: The Pregnancy Care Centers Act
|
|
Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. __5327____
Introduced by Honorable EDUARDO C. ZIALCITA
Explanatory Note:
In this country, only 49 percent of Filipinos use a method of contraception, whether natural or artificial. This level of contraceptive prevalence has not changed much in the five years from 1998, when it was at 47 percent, to 2003.
|
Yet knowledge of family planning methods is very high at 98 to 99 percent among currently married men and women. Philippine population control advocates insist that increased access to contraception would increase usage and social acceptance, ignoring the fact that despite substantial American and local funding and support, there has been no such change of heart in Filipinos towards family planning.
Filipinos may indeed be interested in having less children, but they are not interested in artificial contraceptives. The educational campaign must therefore focus instead on the merits of responsible parenthood, the modern methods of natural family planning, and the emphasis on pro-life alternatives to unexpected pregnancies.
This Act envisions the establishment of more pregnancy health care centers set up by the private sector, due to the availability of tax credits, as long as the health care center has at least one year’s experience. These pregnancy health care centers will empower women to make healthy life choices consistent with the intrinsic value of every human life and the inherent dignity, when properly used, of the procreative, conjugal act.
The centers will provide pregnancy testing, pregnancy confirmation through ultrasound, mentoring and nurturing support, linkage to community resources, education, material aid, housing referrals, abstinence education for unmarried persons, and natural family planning methods for those married couples who are considering a postponement of their first or additional children.
These pregnancy health care centers will provide services to all women, but particularly to those who are pregnant and may be considering illegal abortions. These are the women who severely lack the right information and support.
Pregnant women with unexpected pregnancies do not get illegal abortions because of freedom of choice, but because they feel they have no freedom and no choice. This Act will also correct that problem by funding practical alternatives to abortion. This assistance could include direct care such as medical attention, nutritional support, housing assistance, adoption services, employment assistance and parenting education and support.
It is time we encourage life-affirming choices for pregnancy and sexuality, aside from promoting abstinence as the positive life choice for unmarried persons. These pregnancy care centers will value the sanctity of life, chastity, marriage, and personal responsibility.
There is no need to fear the risk that these pregnancy care centers would use these funds to promote a specific religion. Since our countrymen have their own religious beliefs which they can practice freely in the many churches, mosques and gathering places all over the islands, Filipinos will not turn to these pregnancy care centers for religious support but for counseling and practical help.
EDUARDO C. ZIALCITA
Representative, 1st District, Paranaque
Know more about HB 5327
|
|
|
